| One of my earliest childhood memories is | | | | worked before and to more closely focus on |
| watching Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) win | | | | what is needed today. We are also working to |
| his third Most Outstanding Player award while | | | | focus their efforts beyond the walls of their |
| leading UCLA to its third straight NCAA title in | | | | location - to get out and spend more time with |
| 1969. Of course, March Madness (TM) is now | | | | their customers and prospects.Success Handler |
| ingrained in our sports psyche. From the unveiling | | | | Action: What is it that's keeping you from |
| of the brackets in mid-March, to the playing of | | | | reaching your goals? Is it fear of change? Lack of |
| "One Shining Moment" celebrating a new national | | | | resources? Fatigue? Here are six steps to give |
| champion, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball | | | | your team the mindset of a winner:1. Call some |
| Championship captures our nation's attention.Each | | | | business acquaintances and ask how they |
| year, the Men's Basketball Committee ranks the | | | | motivate their employees2. Read (or re-read) |
| tournament teams on an S-Curve. The top #1 | | | | Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly |
| seed sits at the upper right on the "S" and the | | | | Effective People"3. Get your business plan out of |
| 65th rests at the bottom left, with the remaining | | | | the drawer and update it (think |
| 63 teams listed in order between them. In your | | | | like a coach: X's and O's)4. Candidly discuss your |
| industry, it might be possible to rank businesses in | | | | situation with your financial advisor5. Take your |
| a similar way, and, much like players shooting free | | | | employees out for a celebration; the best teams |
| throws in the NCAA tournament, everyone on | | | | bond together off the field6. Get to work one |
| the S-Curve would have the opportunity to | | | | hour earlier the next two weeks and work on |
| achieve better results by focusing on the keys to | | | | your business, not in itAll teams begin their |
| their success.Success Handler Action: Spend a few | | | | seasons with the same record and same goal. |
| moments thinking about your small business. In | | | | The one that cuts down the net at the end |
| your industry, where do you rank on the | | | | worked together better than everyone else. While |
| S-Curve? Are you near the upper right with top | | | | big state schools tend to win the most |
| performers, somewhere in the middle, or falling | | | | championships, smaller ones celebrate success |
| toward the bottom left? Now, think about the | | | | every year in the NCAA tournament. Whether |
| reasons you placed yourself in that position. Here | | | | you're the biggest in your industry or the smallest, |
| are some questions to consider:~ Do you have | | | | the oldest or the newest, there is opportunity to |
| the personnel to make you a "top seed"?~ Do | | | | renew focus on your business and shoot your |
| you have the equipment to be among the best at | | | | way up the S-Curve. Begin thinking and preparing |
| what you do?~ Are you coaching employees to | | | | like a champion, and you will achieve surprising |
| ensure you get the most out of their talent?~ | | | | results, much like those Cinderella |
| How do your customers view your small | | | | Stories.Copyright © 2004 by Success |
| business? Are you ranked among the elite?~ | | | | Handler, LLC. All rights reserved.The Coach, David |
| What will it take for you to move higher up on | | | | Handler, is the founder of Success Handler, ( and |
| the S-Curve?One of the small business leaders | | | | specializes in helping small business leaders find |
| we coach has an outstanding team, a strong | | | | clarity and take action. He understands the |
| product in a growth industry and a solid marketing | | | | challenges of running a business, because he's |
| approach. Yet, like many business owners, he is | | | | been there - as a small business owner, |
| not achieving the results he expects. Put in sports | | | | franchisee, franchisor, corporate leader and trainer. |
| terms, they have a good game plan, but their | | | | Much like sports coaches, his coaching will show |
| execution is coming up short.We are currently | | | | you how to compete on a level playing field in |
| helping them implement a strategy to reach | | | | your industry. |
| outside their comfort level - to think beyond what | | | | |